One of the most common problems in the pediatric population are ear infections (otitis media). Middle ear inflammation is the accurate description as there is no actual infection present, in most cases. Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection during their first year, and by age three, over two-thirds of all children will have had at least one middle ear infection.

Symptoms include more obvious and some more subtle signs:

Ear pain

Fever

Irritability

Dizziness, in older children

Low appetite

Less than normal activity

Shaking the head

Pulling on the ear

Crying

Causes of ear infections can be complex and multifaceted, including allergy, infection,mechanical obstruction, and nutritional deficiency.

Allergy

Many cases of chronic ear infections are due to food or airborne allergies or hypersensitivity reactions. Allergies can cause significant pressure changes within the middle ear, as well as obstruction of the Eustachian tube. The most common allergens implicated in ear infection are cow’s milk and dairy products, wheat, eggs, chocolate, citrus, corn, soy, peanuts or other nuts, shellfish, sugar, and yeast. Dairy is the number one contributor to childhood ear problems. Proper allergy management, such as elimination and rotation diets, can produce dramatic recovery in allergic children with chronic ear infections.

Infection

If immune function is lowered for any reason, bacteria or viruses from the nose or throat can find their way into the middle ear and contribute to an ear infection. When these germs multiply, pus builds up behind the eardrum and increases the pressure, which leads to pain and swelling in the ear. Often a common cold with a stuffy, runny nose or a cough precedes the ear infection.

Mechanical Obstruction

The obstruction of the Eustachian tube can be due to a mechanical misalignment. This blockage is due to problems of the structural components around the ear and eustachian tube, including the bones of the jaw, skull and neck, which move gently in synchronization with one another. The movement of these bones allows for the proper movement of the fluids in the head, including the fluids connecting between the sinuses, Eustachian tubes and ears. Many things can change the proper movement of the bones in the head, including falls, recurrent infections, and the trauma of birth (especially if tools were used).

Since an ear infection contains fluid that accumulates behind the ear drum, gentle movement of the bones of the head to allow drainage of the fluid can prevent and cure such an infection. Craniosacral work is the gentle movement of the bones of a child’s head and sacrum. Using craniosacral work for treatment and prevention of ear infections is especially helpful. Seek out a pediatric chiropractor, who specialize in cranial work for your child.

Nutritional Deficiencies

An organic, unprocessed, whole foods diet, low in sugar, is essential for creating good health with high immune function. Dietary fats, such as Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), are essential to normal immune and nervous system function, while reducing the predisposition to recurrent infections and inflammatory conditions. Essential fatty acids are found in flax oil, evening primrose oil, borage seed oil, krill oil, and fish oil. This should ideally be started by the mother while she is pregnant and during breast-feeding. One or two teaspoons per day of flax oil, depending on age, may be all the child needs.

Deficiency of certain vitamins or minerals can weaken a child’s immunity. It is valuable to give children a good multivitamin and mineral supplement. Vitamin C, vitamin A, and zinc are essential to the immune system, protecting against ear infection, and the conversion of fatty acids, respectively.

Supplementation of the diet with intestinal bacteria is important to healthy immunity, especially if a child has been on antibiotics. L. acidophilus is recommended for children over age seven, and B. bifidus for children under seven.

Breastfeeding is important to ensure that a child has a healthy immune system. Mother’s milk contains all the immune protecting complexes the child needs. Also, the sucking action required to breastfeed also helps the Eustachian tubes open and close, which makes a difference in the frequency that a child is likely to get ear infections.

Antibiotics and Other Medications

Ear infections are rarely an emergency and usually will get better without antibiotic treatment, which is what is typically prescribed. A reasonable approach in treating a child with an ear infection, who is otherwise healthy, is to wait four days and see if the body will recover without antibiotics. If after four days, the infection has not gone away, antibiotics may make a difference. Keep in mind that if an allergic child continues to be exposed to an allergen, or if the main cause is not resolved, recurrent infections are likely.

From the perspective of the whole person, giving medications to block and suppress an illness can push the illness further into the body. Anti-inflammatory drugs block the formation of some chemicals that promote inflammation, while also blocking chemicals that naturally prevent inflammation, as well as trigger the release of substances that make inflammation worse.

Prevention Options

Lifestyle habits make a significant difference in recurrent ear infections:

Allergens: Remove food allergies and hypersensitivities.

Positioning: A child should not lie down on his or her back to drink a bottle or feed, to be less likely to push fluids into the Eustachian tube.

Breastfeed as much as you can, even more during a symptomatic period of earaches.

Starting your day off with a bang brings awesomeness to it! Morning rituals are a great way to jump start your day and align yourself for the remainder of your daily activities. In the last couple months, I have shifted my morning routine a bit, and have started drinking warm water with fresh lemon juice before I start on anything else. And if you have been following along, you can see that I am a big fan of all things lemon.

So not only is warm water and lemon a great way to nourish your body, but it is also gives you an opportunity to center yourself before the day starts in full force. So let’s see how we can combine the physical, chemical, and emotional benefits to improve your overall health with a simple morning ritual by being:

Vitamin boost: Lemon juice is high in vitamin C and potassium, as well as calcium and copper. These vitamins help boost your immune system to fight colds and potassium stimulates nervous system function.

pH equalizer: Even though, lemon on their own are acidic, once they are ingested and metabolized, they become alkaline. As discussed before, our bodies thrive in an alkaline environment and our health depends on it.

Digestion aid: The combination of warm water and lemon helps stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and peristalsis (that helps move things in the intestines), which promotes regular bowel movements that are important for good health in order to rid the body of toxins. In addition, the warm water with lemon helps flush out the body system by increasing urination and removing toxins through urine.

Deep hydration: Starting your day with a hydration boost helps your body perform all of its appropriate functions. Deep hydration removes toxins from inside through the gut and outside through the skin; helps reduce the stress on the body with healthy and non-fatigued adrenal glands, and even promotes weight loss by fighting off hunger cravings.

So try it for a month, just squeeze a juice from half a lemon and mix it with a cup of warm water (not hot or boiling water!).

Share in the comments below which morning rituals you already practice, and if you already do the lemon water, what benefits have you noticed?

A number of factors affect your immunity each day. This becomes especially important during the winter months when a lot of people tend to get sick. So here are some tips on how to stay healthy and happy, regardless of cold weather changes, more time spent indoors, and increased stress, by avoiding the sniffles and coughs.

So let’s discuss some things you can incorporate in your routine to increase your immunity naturally and take full advantage of the colder time of the year:

1. Eat Green. You’ve heard it from me many-a-times, and many others, that keeping a plentiful intake of greens, vegetables and fruits, is important to promote immune health. Also remember to eat sufficient protein, plant and animal based! The following plants contain complex carbohydrates, the beta-glucans, that enhance immune activity against infections and reduce allergies, a common inappropriate immune system activity. All of these contain anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

2. Nix the sugar. Avoid eating a lot of processed foods and liquids with added sugars and artificial ingredients, such as aspartame, BHT, TBHQ, artificial food coloring, etc. because all of them suppress the immune response in the body.

3. Pick elderberry. Elderberries support the immune system and are a great source of vitamins C, A, and B6, and minerals iron, potassium, and calcium. The elderberry extract can help you recover from the flu within 2-3 days days, as shown in a double-blind study. It is also the second-highest antioxidant fruit.

If in dire need and experiencing symptoms, find a natural supplement and increase the intake up to 3,000 mg.

5. Get your vitamin D.Vitamin D helps facilitate the anti-inflammatory process and fights infections from invading bacteria and viruses. Go outside for 15 minutes each day for a little bit of sun exposure. Also, maintain a diet that includes a lot of omega-3-rich foods, such as fish, mushrooms, and eggs.

Increase your immunity naturally to stay healthy and happy throughout the winter!

6. See your chiropractor. Chiropractic adjustment helps maintain a well-functioning nervous system by aligning the spine, which helps keep the immune system at an optimum level to fight illness.

Dr. Tijana keeping her Mom’s nervous and immune system at the optimum level

7. Exercise. Move your body, period! Walk, run, do yoga, pilates, stretching, weights, or any other form of exercise to get your blood pumping, your heart rate up, your breathing accelerated, and relieve the stress and tension. As a result, it will help enhance your immune function. Don’t forget to have some fun either with some of the winter activities.

8. Stress less. The stresses of the holiday season can actually weaken your immune system by increasing the levels of adrenaline and cortisol in your blood stream. Long-term, chronic stress can create lasting effects on the body, making a person hyper reactive to inflammatory and allergic reactions, such as allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disease. Psychological stress also make a person more susceptible to the colds and viruses. Try countering stressful situations with exercise, yoga, spending some time outside, relaxing in the quiet, meditating, or even breathing deeply.

9. Get some sleep. Getting 6-8 hours of sleep each night is imperative to allow the body to rest and repair itself from the daily activities. Lack of sleep can activate the stress response with elevated cortisol and adrenaline levels, depressed immune system function, and create inflammatory response in the body. So allow your body to repair and integrate itself each night!

10. Make friends. An active social life can help you stay healthy and live longer. The same counts for the furry friends because you are more likely to get outside and exercise. So stay social with your family and friends, make plans to get together, and get out and enjoy yourself and have fun staying healthy!

One of the most common problems in the pediatric population are ear infection (otitis media). Middle ear inflammation is the accurate description as there is no actual infection present, in most cases. Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection during their first year, and by age three, over two-thirds of all children will have had at least one middle ear infection.

Symptoms include more obvious and some more subtle signs:

Ear pain

Fever

Irritability

Dizziness, in older children

Low appetite

Less than normal activity

Shaking the head

Pulling on the ear

Crying

Causes of ear infections can be complex and multifaceted, including allergy, infection, mechanical obstruction, and nutritional deficiency.

Allergy

Many cases of chronic ear infections are due to food or airborne allergies or hypersensitivity reactions. Allergies can cause significant pressure changes within the middle ear, as well as obstruction of the Eustachian tube. The most common allergens implicated in ear infection are cow’s milk and dairy products, wheat, eggs, chocolate, citrus, corn, soy, peanuts or other nuts, shellfish, sugar, and yeast. Dairy is the number one contributor to childhood ear problems. Proper allergy management, such as elimination and rotation diets, can produce dramatic recovery in allergic children with chronic ear infections.

Infection

If immune function is lowered for any reason, bacteria or viruses from the nose or throat can find their way into the middle ear and contribute to an ear infection. When these germs multiply, pus builds up behind the eardrum and increases the pressure, which leads to pain and swelling in the ear. Often a common cold with a stuffy, runny nose or a cough precedes the ear infection.

Mechanical Obstruction

The obstruction of the Eustachian tube can be due to a mechanical misalignment. This blockage is due to problems of the structural components around the ear and eustachian tube, including the bones of the jaw, skull and neck, which move gently in synchronization with one another. The movement of these bones allows for the proper movement of the fluids in the head, including the fluids connecting between the sinuses, Eustachian tubes and ears. Many things can change the proper movement of the bones in the head, including falls, recurrent infections, and the trauma of birth (especially if tools were used).

Since an ear infection contains fluid that accumulates behind the ear drum, gentle movement of the bones of the head to allow drainage of the fluid can prevent and cure such an infection. Craniosacral work is the gentle movement of the bones of a child’s head and sacrum. Using craniosacral work for treatment and prevention of ear infections is especially helpful. Seek out a pediatric chiropractor, like Dr. Tijana, who specialize in cranial work for your child.

Nutritional Deficiency

An organic, unprocessed, whole foods diet, low in sugar, is essential for creating good health with high immune function. Dietary fats, such as Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), are essential to normal immune and nervous system function, while reducing the predisposition to recurrent infections and inflammatory conditions. Essential fatty acids are found in flax oil, evening primrose oil, borage seed oil, krill oil, and fish oil. This should ideally be started by the mother while she is pregnant and during breast-feeding. One or two teaspoons per day of flax oil, depending on age, may be all the child needs.

Deficiency of certain vitamins or minerals can weaken a child’s immunity. It is valuable to give children a good multivitamin and mineral supplement. Vitamin C, vitamin A, and zinc are essential to the immune system, protecting against ear infection, and the conversion of fatty acids, respectively.

Supplementation of the diet with intestinal bacteria is important to healthy immunity, especially if a child has been on antibiotics. L. acidophilus is recommended for children over age seven, and B. bifidus for children under seven.

Breastfeeding is important to ensure that a child has a healthy immune system. Mother’s milk contains all the immune protecting complexes the child needs. Also, the sucking action required to breastfeed also helps the Eustachian tubes open and close, which makes a difference in the frequency that a child is likely to get ear infections.

Antibiotics and Other Medications

Ear infections are rarely an emergency and usually will get better without antibiotic treatment, which is what is typically prescribed. A reasonable approach in treating a child with an ear infection, who is otherwise healthy, is to wait four days and see if the body will recover without antibiotics. If after four days, the infection has not gone away, antibiotics may make a difference. Keep in mind that if an allergic child continues to be exposed to an allergen, or if the main cause is not resolved, recurrent infections are likely.

From the perspective of the whole person, giving medications to block and suppress an illness can push the illness further into the body. Anti-inflammatory drugs block the formation of some chemicals that promote inflammation, while also blocking chemicals that naturally prevent inflammation, as well as trigger the release of substances that make inflammation worse.

Prevention Options

Lifestyle habits make a significant difference in recurrent ear infections:

Allergens: Remove food allergies and hypersensitivities.

Positioning: A child should not lie down on his or her back to drink a bottle or feed, to be less likely to push fluids into the Eustachian tube.

Breastfeed as much as you can, even more during a symptomatic period of earaches.